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Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Brian Hill You Are The Weakest Link,Goodbye!!!!!

Brian Hill will not return as head coach of the Orlando Magic the Orlando Sentinel learned this afternoon. The club is soon expected to announce that he will be offered a position with the organization.The Magic had said in early March when the team was struggling that they still had confidence in Hill. General Manager Otis Smith told the Sentinel before the Magic faced the Houston Rockets on March 11 that he expected Hill to "fulfill his contractual obligations" through 2009.

Hill had even said he was not worried about "my job security."But by the end of the season, Hill was receiving lukewarm endorsements from President Bob Vander Weide and Otis Smith.Vander Weide said after the Magic were ousted by the Detroit Pistons that he was "satisfied" with his team, and a day later, Smith said he "expected" Hill to return.Then, just before Hill and the Magic decided to part, a club official said Hill was "frustrated" with the job.Hill was hired for the second time by the Magic on May 24, 2005, taking over for interim coach Chris Jent. Jent had replaced Johnny Davis, who was fired as head coach.Hill was fired the first time after a player revolt in 1997, ending a near four-year run in which Hill took Orlando to the NBA Finals in 1995.In his first season back with the team in 2005-06, Hill led the Magic to a 36-46 record -- the same record they compiled under Davis and Jent the previous season.Last season, the Magic jumped to a 13-4 start but faded badly before making a run to barely reach the playoffs. They were swept in four games in the first round by the Pistons.Hill became a target of fan criticism on sports-radio talk shows. One fan started a FireBrianHill.org Web site.There was speculation that Hill and Smith had some philosophical differences, most notably with the style of offense and Hill's use of certain players.When told that Smith said the Magic's biggest need this offseason was a scorer, Hill said he was not comfortable giving his opinion, adding he would "defer" to the general manager.Since Chuck Daly resigned in 1999, the Magic have had four head coaches -- Doc Rivers, Davis, Jent and Hill.As far as replacements for Hill, veteran coaches Larry Brown, Lenny Wilkens, Stan Van Gundy, Jeff Van Gundy and Mike Fratello could be available. Veteran Rick Carlisle was fired this season by the Indiana Pacers. Phoenix assistant Marc Iavaroni and Dallas assistant Sam Vincent are also possible candidates. The Indianapolis Star reported today that Stan Van Gundy has turned down an offer to coach the Pacers, and the Charlotte Observer in North Carolina is reporting that Vincent will be named the Bobcats coach by Friday, barring unforeseen circumstances.Florida Gators Coach Billy Donovan, who has led the Gators to back-to-back national championships, has expressed a desire to one day coach in the NBA. But Donovan apparently is waiting on a contract extension from the school.

Hill was definitely the weakest link... they need to be more free to run... Nelson will do so much better with more freedom... it's like they were all playing in Brian Hill's box of an imagination. Hill had the absolute worst timing on substitutions, if someone was hot he'd take them out, and vica versa. Again, because Hill's philosophy was so rigid and not to mention very boring to watch. This team is perfectly suited to play a Phoenix style of basketball!!!!

As long as bsh is away from on the court decision's and player rotations/aquisition's,i'm fine with him being within the franchise. All i know is,this is the most important hire in magic history,before i call BobbyV or Otis my hero for firing bsh,i want to see who their candidates are too replace bsh. If they want an uptempo style,the suns assistant coach just might be the best available,he's watched steve nash play the game for so long under coach dantoni that you'd be getting a dantoni clone,they play the right way with bounce passes and alot of pick and roll so you cant double anyone player,plus alot less isolation's so the team doesnt have to sit around and watch one player go one on one,the main difference between the two teams will be dwight howard,with dwight the suns would win the championship,the fact that we have dwight makes their style of play very attractive. If college coach's are in their plans,coach K and billy donovan should be first up to be courted.

Philosophical differences with General Manager Otis Smith led to Brian Hill's dismissal as the head coach of the Orlando Magic, Smith said today.

Speaking with the news media at the team's headquarters at RDV Sportsplex, Smith said he made the decision to remove Hill because he felt the team underachieved in 2006-07 and needed a new direction to reach its goal of "winning an NBA championship."

In the second year of his second stint with the team, Hill directed the Magic to a 40-42 record and made the playoffs as the No. 8 seed for the first time since 2003. But Orlando was swept in four games by the Detroit Pistons in the first round.

"Brian has done some good things to prepare us as far as instilling discipline and structure, but now we need to take the next step and I thought it was time (for a change)," Smith said."

He said wrestled with the idea of ending Hill's tenure after only two years for several weeks before concluding that a change was needed.

"Stability and continuity are good if it's the right person," Smith said. "But if it's not the right person, you can continue just to repeat yourself. . . .

"We should have been a better-executing ball team."

Smith said he has no timetable for naming a successor but "I have a list" of candidates. He would not disclose names but said the next coach of the Magic will need to be able to develop young talent such as Dwight Howard, Trevor Ariza, Jameer Nelson, Darko Milicic and J.J. Redick and play a style that fits their skills.

"It just has to be the right guy, the right fit," Smith said. "That is going to require some sit-down, one-on-one time (with candidates.) . . .

"It's attractive enough to get the attention of coaches."

Smith said he had several conversations with Hill since the end of the season before determining a change was necessary. Changes to "the offense and the lack of adjustments (in games and with personnel") were "discussion points," he said.

Hill, who had two years remaining on his contract, has been offered a position in the organization. The team's current assistants remain under contract at this time.

It was obvious after this season that the team needed to go in a different direction coaching-wise. Kudos to Otis Smith for realizing this.

You know, the few supporters that Brian Hill had, I could never understand how they could fail to acknowledge the fact that Hill was so inflexible and stubborn, and couldn't utilize a system that took the best advantage of the Magic players' talents.

I agree with Big Figure... I'm alright with BHill still having a job in the organization, as long as it has nothing to do with coaching or player acquisitions. I've always thought that away from the basketball court, Brian Hill is a decent human being.

Any of you guys listen to the whole interview,the sentinel has the 25 minute piece,otis really has a passion for the game and an obvious dedication to being better than we have been,i think we're finally getting close to the good stuff as a franchise.

The Portland Trailblazers are celebrating their luck. Having the chance to pick Greg Oden, Kevin Durant, or even the option of trading the first pick for a veteran should change the direction of the franchise. Blazer mania is on the way back. Meanwhile in the Magic Kingdom things aren’t quite as great.

The Orlando Magic doesn’t currently have a first round pick. As most people know by now that pick, (the 15th overall), went to Detroit in the Darko Milicic trade. Truthfully there wasn’t much of a reason for anyone in the Magic organization to watch the lottery, unless there is a plan to get back into the picture. Acquiring a lottery pick seems to be out of the question, however there are a few teams that may be interested in giving up a mid round pick if the right deal is on the table.

It’s time for Otis Smith to get creative and lucky – and maybe time for a little begging.

It’s safe to say there are some trades on the way. Maybe it is safer to say there should be some trades on the way. The Magic’s needs are well-documented. What isn’t known is who the Magic are willing to give in order to get the players that will help put this team on the next level. Here are some potential trades, some more painful than others.

Keyon Dooling and Tony Battie to the Philadelphia 76ers for the 21st pick in the draft and Joe Smith.

This trade would help both teams. Saying goodbye to Keyon Dooling would be difficult. He is a player that gives the Magic tough defense, versatility, and experience. Dooling is also a great guy; he carries himself with the type of class every NBA locker room should have.

Those reasons are exactly why Philadelphia would be smart to look at Dooling as a back up to Andre Miller. Dooling gives the Sixers a proven player, something that can’t be said about the player the Sixers may get with the 21st pick.The same thing can be said for Tony Battie. He is a battle tested player that would be great for the Sixers off the bench. Battie and Joe Smith have a similar skill sets. The trade realistically would be Dooling for the pick.

Carlos Arroyo to the Golden State Warriors for the 18th pick in the draft.

The Warriors will Enter the 2007-08 season with playoff expectations. In order to meet those expectations the Warriors will need to address certain needs, and depth is at the top of the list. Adding Arroyo to the team will add depth, experience, and talent. Arroyo wasn’t used much towards the end of the season, something that had to have frustrated him.

He will flourish in Don Nelson’s system. Trading the 18th pick to the Magic guarantees Golden State a quality player that doesn’t need time to learn the NBA game, while giving the Magic a chance to address certain needs of their own through the draft.

The trade doesn’t need to be for a draft pick, but trading for a player that can make an immediate impact is also a possibility.

Obviously a potential Ray Allen and Kevin Durant combination would breathe life into Seattle, so getting rid of Allen wouldn’t necessarily be smart for the Sonics.

This is where the luck and potential begging comes into play. If Smith can appeal to the sensitive side of Seattle management, (Sonics currently don’t have GM), maybe something can happen. The plea would have to go something like this:

"Come on; you guys have enough good players in the West. You don’t need Ray, Rashard, and Kevin. Please let us have Jesus Shuttlesworth! Take Darko, he’ll make you famous, (or infamous). Besides most people won’t be up late enough to watch those guys play!"

It probably won’t happen, but hey, it’s worth a try. Anything is possible, as witnessed by the Seattle landing in the second spot.

The Magic must to do something to get a first round pick. They can’t afford to be out of the first round of the draft. They also need to realize that some personnel changes are needed beyond just the firing of Brian Hill. Sorry Magic fans, it’s not all Hill’s fault.

All things considered it truly could be worse for the Magic. They could be the Boston Celtics.

2 things i know about Bob Hill. (1)He's not in a position too guarantee lewis being that he was fired,plus being friends with lewis and endorsing him as one of the top ten forwards in the east doesnt have enough weight too just automatically hire him or forget that he once worked in tune with bsh. (2) He's a recycled coach who's in his last two stops had horrible records and no success,oh and did i mention he worked with bsh.

While I think Ray Allen would be the perfect fit for the type of shooting guard we need, there is no way I'd give up Darko for Allen at the age of 32. Anybody else, but not Darko...

Darko 21; on the rise...

Ray 32; not so much...

Still, the odds are, Lewis will be the player leaving, because he plays the same spot Durant does, unless they want to try playing them side by side. But one of them would have to defend the power forwards of the league, and I don't see that happening.

I myself would do the Arroyo deal. We need to make some kind of move in regards to our point guards to make it clear who our guys are.

However, I don't see the Magic shipping out Arroyo due to his large fan base and the money he alone brings in.

As for the other deal, I'm not a fan of Joe Smith. He wouldn't replace Battie, he's not tough enough. We wouldn't do that deal because then we'd only have 2 true big men.

As for other player movement, I know we'll make some kind of deals, but I think they'll be minor. I think Otis believes in many of his players, as he's called out Nelson, Redick, Ariza, Darko, and Dwight more than once. I think he might want to add another scorer, but I don't see him doing it if it costs him losing one of his core players. I think he wants to get a good coach behind them and see what happens. And if you really think about it, next season could roll around, and we might have a close to same roster, with anywhere from 1-4 new starters.

The good thing is, Otis has a direction he wants to go. He knows who he wants playing together, and how. So I’m pretty sure he’s going to talk to one coach after another, tell them what he wants, and see who fits that mold the best. Otis has watched this team more than anyone, so I’m confident he’ll make a decent choice.

In addition to Bob Hill contacting the Magic, I also read former player Brian Shaw has got in touch with them. Currently he’s an assistant coach under Phil Jackson.

I'll be very disappointed if the Magic let Darko go. With a different coach next season, we should really begin to see Darko flourish as a player and be way more consistent, as we all know BHill didn't use Darko properly.

If the Magic could get a first round pick for CArroyo, that would be great. I like Arroyo as a player, but OVERWADED is right, the Magic have too many PGs on the roster now.

I am hoping the Magic don't give up on Travis Diener. I think he deserves an opportunity during training camp to win the starting PG spot, and I think he would do a terrific job. Remember how well he played at PG last training camp? Once the season started, however, he was buried at the end of the bench and didn't suit up for most games.

I would be disappointed if the Magic traded KDooling, because he is a very competent PG; however, if the Magic can get good value in return, then they should pull the trigger on a deal.

It's going to be an interesting summer following all the potential Magic roster moves and with the search for a new coach.

Well so far Stan Van Gundy, Brian Shaw, and Bob Hill have all said they’re interested in the job.

But they're contacting the Magic...

The Magic have said they want to have a coach in place by the end of June before free agency hits.

And their first candidate is...

Marc Iavaroni; Arizona Republic reported the Magic requested and were granted permission to talk to the Suns assistant coach.

I have no problem with this, as we need as much help with our offense as possible, but I hope nobody is expecting us to run like the Suns, because that isn’t going to happen; not with Dwight and Darko playing side by side.

Mike i dont think it's about previous head coaching experience (PHCE),it's more about style of play and meshing with our young players. If your a recycled coach (PHCE) and seem to fit that criteria during an interview then so be it,but on the flip side i dont think a lack of PHCE will keep a good candidate from getting the job.